Labor’s energy cash grab is ripping Queenslanders off

Labor to rip $463 million in dividends from energy companies to prop up their finances

Cash grab from Annastacia Palaszczuk is nothing more than a tax by stealth on Queenslanders

LNP writes to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to look at Labor’s wholesale electricity price ripoff

More damning evidence has emerged of Labor using electricity as a tax by stealth to prop up its ailing budget.

LNP Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said an analysis of Labor’s budget papers shows that Annastacia Palaszczuk is ripping out $463 million in dividends from energy generators – a fivefold increase from the LNP’s last year in government.

“This is nothing more than a tax by stealth on Queenslanders by a Labor government who have been caught ripping off Queenslanders,” Mr Emerson said.

“This price gouge follows reports confirming wholesale electricity prices in Queensland have been the most expensive in the National Energy Market, as this ‘do-nothing’ Labor Government fail to keep prices under control.

“Queenslanders are paying too much for electricity, and we now know that it is because the Palaszczuk Labor Government are loading up energy companies with their debt and ripping out dividends from high prices.

“Labor have been pushing the government-owned electricity generators to game the market to help cover for the Government’s financial mismanagement and budget problems, and it’s Queensland families who are suffering as a result.”

Mr Emerson said the LNP has taken a stand on Labor’s price gouging by writing to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to investigate Queensland’s wholesale electricity prices.

“Wholesale electricity prices have increased by more than 70 per cent on Labor's watch,” Mr Emerson said.

“There isn't a Queensland family or a business Labor won't hurt with their shocking electricity policies.

“Labor had been manipulating the electricity market and gouging families, small businesses and households with higher wholesale electricity prices.

“Labor have been caught out ripping off every man, woman and child in Queensland.

“Labor cannot be trusted and their only legacy after almost three years in office is to deliberately slug Queenslanders to pay for their financial incompetence.”